DGAP-Adhoc: Leclanché SA announces new appointment and reports supplier objection
25.09.2013 – 19:00
Leclanché SA / Key word(s): Change of Personnel 25.09.2013 18:52 Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Press Release Leclanché SA announces new appointment and reports supplier objection Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, September 25, 2013 - Leclanché S.A. (SIX Swiss Exchange: LECN), announced today that it has appointed Mr Thierry Perronnet to head up its Distribution Business and provided supplementary information on a supply contract. New Appointment Leclanché specializes in the production of large-format lithium-ion cells and energy storage solutions but also operates two existing businesses, the Portable business and the Distribution business. Mr Perronnet's appointment is in line with Leclanché's strategy to develop and grow these two existing businesses. The Portable business, which designs and develops customer specific portable energy storage systems for military, medical and industrial applications, achieved unaudited revenues of CHF 5.0 million for the 6 months ending 30 June 2013. During the same period, unaudited revenues for the Distribution business were CHF1.6million. This business unit provides a range of consumer energy storage products to a diversified customer base. Mr Perronnet, a French national, has a strong background in consumer goods and technological Business to Business ('B2B') markets and has held various senior positions in sales and marketing in Europe and North America. Until recently, he was a B2B Marketing Director with Eastman Kodak for the EMEA region. Prior to that he successfully developed a Business to Customer ('B2C') business in data storage and photographic products that was spun off from 3M, for whom he had previously worked in Europe and North America. Supplier Objection In its recent listing prospectus Leclanché noted that it had terminated a supplier contract due to quality and contamination issues with the raw material delivered by this supplier. The company had noted, at the time, that the supplier had not responded to its termination. The supplier has rejected Leclanché's position but Leclanché strongly maintains its initial position to terminate the supply agreement and will take the appropriate action as necessary. About Leclanché Leclanché's strategy is to become one of the leading lithium-ion cell producers and solution providers for renewable energy storage systems in Europe. Its strategic priorities are to develop and market energy storage stationary products for the home, industrial markets and grid applications and to grow its existing businesses. Through participation in research consortia focusing on hybrid and E-mobility applications, Leclanché is positioned to take advantage of new market opportunities. Through a unique, patented ceramic separator technology and focus on lithium-titanate technology, Leclanché manufactures large-format lithium-ion cells, optimized for safety and cycle-life, in a fully automated production process. The newly installed production line will have an annual capacity of one million cells or 76 MWh. Leclanché was founded in 1909 in Yverdon-les-Bains. Through the integration of a spin-off from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in 2006, the company evolved from a traditional battery manufacturer to become a leading developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion cells in Europe. Leclanché currently employs more than 100 staff and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LECN). The company has its headquarters in Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland) and production facilities in Willstätt (Germany). www.leclanche.eu Media contact: Christophe Lamps, Dynamics Group S.A.: Telephone: +41 79 476 26 87, cla@dynamicsgroup.chcla@dynamicsgroup.ch Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to Leclanché's business, which can be identified by terminology such as 'strategic', 'proposes', 'to introduce', 'will', 'planned', 'expected', 'commitment', 'expects', 'set', 'preparing', 'plans', 'estimates', 'aims', 'would', 'potential', 'awaiting', 'estimated', 'proposal', or similar expressions, or by expressed or implied discussions regarding the ramp up of Leclanché's production capacity, potential applications for existing products, or regarding potential future revenues from any such products, or potential future sales or earnings of Leclanché or any of its business units. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Leclanché regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Leclanché's products will achieve any particular revenue levels. Nor can there be any guarantee that Leclanché, or any of the business units, will achieve any particular financial results. 25.09.2013 News transmitted by EQS Schweiz AG. The issuer is responsible for the contents of the release. EquityStory publishes regulatory releases, media releases on the capital market and press releases. The EquityStory Group distributes authentic and real-time financial news for over 1'300 listed companies. The Swiss news archive can be found at www.equitystory.ch/news --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Leclanché SA Av. des Sports 42 1400 Yverdon-les-Bains Switzerland Phone: +41 (24) 424 65-00 Fax: +41 (24) 424 65-20 E-mail: investors@leclanche.com Internet: www.leclanche.com ISIN: CH0110303119, CH0016271550 Valor: A1CUUB, 812950 Listed: SIX End of Announcement EQS Group News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------